The Third War

Chapter Twenty Nine: Kristy

I don't wanna hear, I don't wanna hear, I don't wanna see, I don't wanna see, I don't want her to be dead.

 I repeated this to myself as if it would make any difference, of course I would hear the gunshots, and as soon as I did I'd look up to see her body fall to the ground and I would rush forward to try and see if there was any chance to save her because I didn't want her to die. As much as I knew she was suffering, I was selfish.

I wanted Zoe to be with me, by my side, I wanted to protect her and see her get better.

I waited, and waited, and waited for the gunshot, but it didn't come.

I refused to look up, if I saw her up there I would lose it. I felt a tap on my shoulder, No, go away, I don't want to watch.

I felt a more violent tap, Can't you at least leave me in peace?

There was a pause until my arms were grabbed and shook...by...very small hands for a soldier.

Zoe? 

 I barely believed it was true. I looked up to see her alive and smiling.

"Kris look!"

She stepped aside and my eyes widened, No way.

"Hello Kristy," my dad smiled faintly at me.

I couldn't speak, I had many different feelings rush at me at the same time, He's not dead! Wait, then why didn't he tell us? He'll know our house was bombed. Why didn't he come look for us? Why didn't he try to follow us? We'll have to tell him about Mom and Gabe....and Zoe. Our father isn't dead, he can help Zoe! He almost killed Zoe! Why did he hide from us? He has an important job. Is this...is this actually really him?-

I turned to Zoe who was smiling more than I thought was possible for her, but she faltered a little as I turned to look at her. She spoke softly trying to diminish my disbelief, "He's alive, Kris. We found him."

I looked back at him, He was the one who hadn't cared if we lived or died. He had let people vote on our lives. He had only cared about a stupid sandwich, actually that kind of makes sense with our dad. Zoe, he almost killed Zoe.

Zoe picked up on it, she knew right then. I would never really forgive our father.

"Stand down," the soldier hesitated as our Dad ordered him.

"But, sir..."

The guard was cut off by Dad's sudden protectiveness, "Now."

I turned my head around to look at all the nice soldiers. A glare at each of them was my promise they would pay dearly in the future.

Zoe touched my shoulder and her voice was a disguised request, "He's alive, I'm alive."

I don't care, he tried to kill you, in all honesty, sometimes I enjoy the fact Zoe can read my expressions. Made it easy to have a private conversation in a room full of people who voted us dead.

Our Dad seemed to pick up on the unease between us, "Come on, let's go catch up somewhere private."

He held out his hand for Zoe who took it and looked at me hopefully while holding out his left to me. I stood up and took Zoe's with my head held high sending a clear message; I was going to be here for Zoe, not him.

I followed Zoe, who was following him, out of the room of confused people into a small little room with a couch and desk with one of those office spinney chairs. He sat down in that chair and we took the couch.